Field Poll: A big majority of California voters don't like the trigger cuts that will be enacted if Gov. Jerry Brown's tax iniative fails in November.
From the Associated Press: "Nearly three-quarters of California voters oppose the automatic, midyear spending reductions that would balance the state budget if a November ballot initiative to raise taxes fails, according to a new Field Poll."
"Seventy-two percent of registered voters, including wide majorities of Democrats and Republicans, oppose the measure, a central part of California's recently enacted budget, according to the poll."
"...Opposition to the so-called "trigger cuts" is greatest among Democrats -- 79 percent -- but 68 percent of independent voters and 65 percent of Republicans also oppose it, according to the poll."
Senators are gearing up for a vote on California's High Speed Rail this week. The $68 billion project includes funding for upgrades to regional 'feeder' transportation lines as well.
From David Siders at Capitol Alert: "Lawmakers preparing for a crucial vote this week on high-speed rail will see a bill tailored to include funding for regional transportation improvements in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, as well as language designed to address longstanding concerns about the California High-Speed Rail Authority's oversight of the project."
"Lawmakers expect to consider the $68 billion project in committee on Thursday, before a floor vote in the Senate on Friday."
Since California's proposed High Speed Rail system is only slightly more popular than the trigger cuts, one veteran journalist thinks it may give the Gov heartache come November.
George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times: "The bullet train won't be on the November ballot, but it will be on many Californians' minds as they decide the fate of Gov. Jerry Brown's tax proposal."
"That's what I keep hearing from e-mailers such as Fred: 'Many voters will not support Jerry's tax plan so long as his budget includes monies for high speed rail.""
"And Bob: 'Every time Jerry Brown mentions the bullet train, the two November tax increase measures lose votes. More and more voters just don't want to give the state any more money.'"
The California Farm Bureau got the go-ahead from a Fresno County Judge to pursue its lawsuit against developing solar power projects on prime ag land.
From Kurtis Alexander in the Fresno Bee: "The California Farm Bureau has won approval to pursue its legal fight against solar development on Valley farmland.
A Fresno County Superior Court judge ruled last week that the California Farm Bureau Federation can sue Fresno County for permitting a 90-acre solar plant on agricultural land near Interstate 5."
"County attorneys had argued that the farm bureau didn't have a local connection to the proposed solar project and therefore couldn't sue."
"...The case is the first legal showdown between the agricultural community and the solar industry since a flood of new energy proposals left many in the heavily farmed San Joaquin Valley fearful of a land grab."
Gov. Brown's line item veto last week may doom AVID college-readiness programs in 1400 California schools.
From Kimberly Beltran at the SI&A Cabinet Report: "School districts offering the successful – and previously state-supported – AVID college-readiness program are now on the hook to find ways to pay for it if they want it to continue."
"Though the Legislature included $8.1 million for Advancement Via Individual Determination in the budget it forwarded to Gov. Jerry Brown, the AVID funding was among $195.7 million that the governor sliced last week in a series of line-item vetoes."
"Barring a veto override by the Legislature, the cut means that the 1,400 California school sites offering AVID would have to pay for the administrative and professional development support needed to continue."
Thousands of San Diegans who waited for hours to see the city's much-vaunted July 4 fireworks display got a bit of a surprise last night: technicians accidentally set off the entire display at the same time. The whole shootin' match was over in 15 seconds. Video here.
